We went to a BBQ at Rob and Jen’s house this afternoon. Many of the couples had babies under 18 months or so that weren’t here last time we saw these guys!! How. Time. Flies.
Rob’s blue bonnets were in rare form. Just beautiful.
And one last shot of the pascal sky as we stopped by the marina on the way home tonight.
It’s not about the bunnies, colored eggs and candy…
Almost Friday… woo hoo! Tonight monte made a lovely seafood risotto. Ginormous gulf shrimp. Bay scallops. Cod fillet. All stirred into the sumptuous yumminess of risotto. Here’s a peek:
I had a treat today, in more ways than one.
– I had a real “lunch break,” which rarely happens.
– And I went out to lunch, which never happens.
– AND I went to lunch with some colleagues that I met over the phone and worked with round the clock during the crit-sit-from-hell that I complained about in several posts in the last month or two. Today we met the first time in person. We all work in Austin, but in different groups.
– And, the icing on the cake, was that the place they picked is a most awesome bakery teeming with fantastic breads and sweet things. Panaderia Chuy is a small, but very busy, Mexican bakery at the intersection of Ohlen Rd and US 183 access road in North Austin.
I really enjoyed meeting this group of people from work. I’m so glad they took the initiative to get us together. I have been working at the end of a phone for so long lately, having a face-to-face experience is a rare but welcome one. And the bakery is a gem of a find. Ok. So, it only took me 17 years to run across it, but I will definitely be back. Many times.
Here’s a few items from my first sampling…the bolillos were crispy on the outside and heavenly on the inside. The marranitos (little gingerbread-like pastry in the shape of a pig) was perfect. And the orejas (puff pastry-ish ear / heart shaped pastries) took me back about 30 years to when I lived in Spain. They also have churros, and their own ice cream and tons of other goodies.
When you come in, pick up a large metal cookie sheet and set of tongs from the stack in the middle of the room and then load up as you walk from one display case to another.
They also have a kitchen and eating area for eating in.
Check them out.
I was looking through some of my old pics, and found this one that I took 3 years ago today. The lake was at 681′. Today it is at 630′. I sure wish it would rain…..
Though we’re already a few days into Spring, a chill has been in the air from the latest cold front. Monte and I weeded the flower bed along the fence. It’s ready for some spring flower sets. I think I’ll wait another week. St. Francis will have to hold down the fort a little longer.
I have been enjoying swimming at the gym, for the last few months. I’m slow and steady, and have worked up to being able to swim a mile in an hour. However, the chlorine is wreaking havoc with my hair, skin, nails and most recently my jewelry. So today I left my rings behind at home – hanging on the cabinet door handle.
Now, i have no idea if the fact that I wasn’t wearing my wedding band had anything to do with it… but I had an interesting encounter in the steam room after my swim. Usually the steam room is full of men and women of all ages, shapes and sizes. Today, however, when I entered the steam-filled room, there was only one other person there. Until today, my experience was that steamroom etiquette was a lot like elevator etiquette – you pretty much keep to yourself and exit when you’re ready.
Today, after about 5 minutes, the one other person in a blue swimsuit walked over to me. Here is the conversation that followed:
blueswimsuit: <mumble mumble>
me: “sorry, I couldn’t hear you over the steam vent”
blueswimsuit: “I said, do you live nearby?”
me: “Yes”
blueswimsuit: “well, would you be interested in giving me a sensual oil massage?”
me: “Uh. No.” <pause> “I don’t think I would be very good at that.”
blueswimsuit: “Oh, its pretty easy, you just rub oil on my shoulders and back.”
me: “No. I wouldn’t be good at doing that. Sorry.”
blueswimsuit: “are you sure?”
me: “very sure, thanks.”
After that, she walked back over to her side of the steamroom and we sat there for another ten minutes by ourselves until another person joined us.
Just another day at the gym, i guess. 🙂
Welcome!
This morning was overcast & cold. I ran errands. Then we went for a walk, waiting for the sun to come out. It finally did about 3:00. So we went of back and did some much needed yard work. The beds are ready for planting!
Whew, what a long week! After work I walked around our yard out back to see what I could see. My plumbago is thriving with little to no water, as usual.
The hardest working retiree has been busy this week. He spent an entire day cleaning the house (thanks sweetie!) and today he spent all day tilling and planting his garden out in the way back. Tomatoes, basil, chives, parsley, dill… and zinnies! Can’t wait.
Then I surveyed the trees out back. One day there’s no leaves. The next day they are covered in green.
At the base of this red oak I saw something I’ve never seen. Neon green golf ball sized balls growing on the branches. Very odd. Google tells me they are a sign of oak apple gall. Home to the apple gall wasp larvae till it hatches. Learn something new every day!
Enjoy your weekend!
Today at about 6 AM central time, Spring arrived in Central Texas. But Winter didn’t sneak away quietly. Approximately 3 hours before that we were all woken up abruptly by the terrific racket of hail pelting the roof – the leading edge of one last Winter coldfront was passing over the house. Unfortunately, the cars were out in the driveway. By the time we were up and about it was too late to go out and move them. Luckily it was only about 1/4″ to 1/2″ and didn’t damage the cars. That was exciting.
In keeping with my life-view that everything happens for a reason… as Julie and I were groggily standing at the sliding glass door watching the hail fall on the back patio, she said, “Hey, isn’t that Monte’s laptop?” Sure enough, it was sitting on the table outside the door. I guess he left it there on his way in from the shop the night before. We were able to grab it and bring it inside before it got drenched by the rain that started to fall a few minutes later. Funny, eh?
Anyway, I should have snapped a shot of the hail, but I wasn’t quite awake enough at the time to think to do that. So, i’ll leave you with this picture of tonight’s selection. Cheers to Spring!
Ack! I have not been paying attention, but on March 8th, I completed year 3 of sheila365.com’s photoblog! The first year I faithfully posted a photo-a-day (March 8, 2010 – 2011). The second and third years were not daily, but close to it. And after all this time, I still look forward to posting. But, I enjoy much more looking back on my own posts from time to time to remember the moments I captured.
I am amazed and happy to report that I have 180 followers (thank you!) and I have amassed nearly 15,000 visits, and 1100+ comments. This aint the New York Times, but it is my very own soapbox to share an interesting thought or two. I’m glad you are all here to share them with.
In keeping with past years, here is a collage of the moments I’ve shared from year 3 of sheila365.com…
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I went to the nearby hike and bike trail this morning. I’m really glad I did… saw spring popping everywhere.
I love the redbuds in bloom.
And the bluebonnets.
As I was jogging and walking I was streaming music over pandora and heard this song (Awake My Soul) for the first time. This part especially grabbed me:
“In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life.”
We went out for monte’s birthday-eve dinner tonight, because we will be on the boat tomorrow night. Birthday boy’s choice: stone crab at truluck’s. yum!
And dessert!
Sheila365 